Apparatus for filling containers with fluid material



L. GREISSMAN Aug. 7, 1956 APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL Filed Feb. 11, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 u a 5.3 Sv mm M w o o mm m H V 6 7 W m 4 m0 5 w o ,L

Aug. 7, 1956 L. GREISSMAN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL Filed Feb. 11. 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. A 00/8 GRassm/Y Aug. 7, 1956 GREISSMAN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 11. 1954 I INVENTOR. Lou/.5 Gay/MAN Aug. 7, 1956v L. GREISSMAN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 11. 1954 IN V EN T OR. Zoo/s GRE/ssMA/v ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1956 GREISSMAN 2,757,844

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL Filed Feb. 11, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 TEL :1. E. 9\ m 1 1.?

IN V ENT 0R. L 00/5 GPL'ISSMAN 2 rropmsr Aug. 7, 1956 GREISSMAN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 11, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

Lou/s GQf/SSMAN BY {7 United States Patent Oflice 2,757,844 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FLUID MATERIAL Louis Greissman, New York, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,594

20 Claims. (Cl. 226-95) This invention relates to an apparatus for filling containers with fluid material.

It is an object of the present invention-to provide an apparatus of the character described, wherein a plurality of empty containers are placed on a moving conveyor and are automatically filled with a predetermined quantity of material as the containers move therealong.

Although the apparatus is disclosed as employed for filling containers with fluid material, and more specifically, for filling cans with shoe polish in a fluid state, it is to be understood that the present invention is adapted to fill containers with non-fluid material such as a pulverized product.

Another object is to provide a novel filling head device which travels above the series of empty containers on the moving conveyor and injects the fluid material into the containers as the filling head moves along with the containers.

A further object is to provide a novel mechanism for moving the filling head at the same rate of speed as the containers so as to assure that the fluid material being ejected from the filling head will always fall directly into the containers.

Still another object is to provide a novel means responsive to the number of empty containers placed on the conveyor and controlling the flow of the material from the filling head, solid means preventing such flow should there by less than the proper number of containers on the conveyor. This arrangement prevents the material from being ejected from the filling head unless there are the proper number of containers suitably positioned to receive the material and thereby avoid clogging and contamination of the working parts of the apparatus by spilled material.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for controlling the ejection of fluid material from the filling head and comprising cam means for opening and closing the filling head valve automatically in properly timed sequence in relation to the other operative components of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character described comprising a cage for receiving an aligned row of empty containers, a conveyor for transporting said row of containers into such cage, a second conveyor, means to move said cage so as to transport said containers from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and means for automatically actuating the last-recited means in properly timed relation to the cycle of operation of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement for supplying the fluid material to said filling head, and comprising cylinders connected by a valve to a source of fluid supply, pistons reciprocally slidable in said cylinders and means for actuating said pistons automatically during the interval of the cycle when the filling head is travelling above the empty containers to be filled.

Still another object is to provide a novel arrangement whereby the valve controlling the flow of fluid from the cylinders to the filling head is maintained closed when less than the properly determined number of empty containers to be filled are placed on said second conveyor, said valve permitting the fluid pumped by the moving piston to flow back toward the fluid supply source so as to prevent excessive pressure due to the closing of the valve controlling ejection of the fluid from the filling head.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described comprising means to move an open top container from one position in one direction, a filling head over the container, means to reciprocate the head to move with the container in said direction away from said one position to a second position and then back to said one position as the container continues to move in said one direction beyond said second position, a valve on said head adapted to permit material from said head to pass into said container when said valve is opened and means to open the valve while the head and container move in said first direction, and means to close the valve while the head moves back from the second position toward said one position.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus comprising means for feeding a row of containers in a direction longitudinally of the row to a predetermined position, a conveyor, means for moving the conveyor in a direction perpendicular to said row, means for moving said row of containers in said perpendicular direction onto said conveyor so as to align the row of containers on the conveyor transversely of the direction of conveyor movement, filling means having a row of discharge openings each positioned above a respective one of said containers in vertical alignment therewith, means mounting the filling means for movement above the conveyor in said direction of movement thereof, means for moving said filling means at approximately the same velocity as the conveyor to maintain the discharge openings in said vertical alignment with the containers as the latter move on said conveyor, means for supplying fluid material to said filling means to be discharged through said openings into said containers as the latter move on said conveyor, and valve means controlling said discharge of fluid material and for stopping said discharge when the containers have been filled with a predetermined quantity thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are inherent in the structure as claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevational view showing the opposite side of the apparatus from that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and showing by phantom lines certain parts to the left of line 5--5;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of part of the device for preventing flow of the fluid material when less than the proper number of containers has been fed to the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view on line 1212 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on line 14-1 i of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view on line 1515 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line 16-16 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line 1717 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 1818 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 19 is a detail top plan view showing two of the series of interconnected elements which form the conveyor on which the containers ride as they are being filled;

Fig. 20 is a bottom plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of several elements of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral 31 indicates generally an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising a frame 3 2. The latter includes a horizontal base 33 from which extend downwardly a plurality of support legs 34 having enlarged base portions 35 at their lower ends and adapted to rest upon the floor surface to support the entire apparatus 31. The support legs 34 are threaded as at 36 and are rotatable with respect to base 33 so as to provide for levelling adjustment of the apparatus 31.

Along opposite side edges of base member 33 are secured a pair of longitudinal horizontal angle members 37 at the forward ends of which are secured the lower forward portions of a pair of vertical side walls 39, an by bolts 38. The lower rear portions of side walls 39, 40 are cut away to provide rectangular recesses at 4-1 and are rigidly secured with respect to intermediate and rear portions of angle members 37 by brace elements 42, 43.

A drive shaft 44 extends transversely of apparatus 31 through the side walls 39, 40 thereof and is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 44a, 44b (Fig. 5) secured to side walls 39, 41 As shown in Fig. 1, the output shaft 45 of an electric motor 46 is drivingly connected to drive shaft 44 by a clutch 47. Referring to Fig. 2, a front cam plate 4-9 is fixedly secured to the end of drive shaft 44 which projects outwardly from the front side wall 39. A crank pin 56 is mounted on cam plate 49 at a point thereof eccentric to the axis of drive shaft 44. A connecting rod 51 has its forward end 52 pivoted to crank pin and its rearward end 53 pivoted at 54 to a rocker member indicated generally by the reference numeral 55.

As best seen in Fig. 16, rocker member 55 comprises a pair of straight parallel walls 56, 57 integrally joined at their upper edges by a horizontal top wall 58. A sleeve 59 extends from wall 56 and is provided with an end face 69 abutting against the inner surface 39 of the front side wall 39 of frame 31. A bearing 61 is secured to the outer or forward surface 39" of side wall 39 and is provided with a cylindrical bearing sleeve 62 rotatably receiving a pivot pin 63, the inner end of the latter projecting through sleeve 59. The latter is fixedly secured to pivot pin 63 by a set screw 64. It will thus be seen that rocker member 55 is rotatably mounted about the axis of pivot pin 63.

The top wall 58 of rocker member 55 is provided with a through opening 65 receiving the reduced upper end portion 66 of a rod indicated generally at 67. A knurled knob 68 is secured to the upper end of rod 67, the lower end of which is externally threaded at 69 and extends into the space between walls 56, 57 of rocker member 55. A pair of stop collars 7 t 71 are secured to the reduced rod portion 66 by set screws 72, 73 and abut upper and lower surfaces of top wall 58 thereby preventing longitudinal displacement of rod 67 but permitting rotation of the latter within opening 65. An internally threaded member '74 receives threaded rod portion 69 and is slidablc in the space between walls 56, 57.

The wall 57 is provided with a longitudinal slot 75 through which extends a pivot pin 76 having an inner threaded end 77 threadedly secured within a suitable opening provided in member 74. A connecting rod 78 (Fig. 2) is provided with a forward end 79 pivotally mounted on pivot pin 76 and retained thereon by the enlarged head 81) of the latter. It will thus be seen that the distance between the axes of pivot pins 63 and 76 may be adjustably varied by rotating knob 68 to move member 74- upwardly or downwardly along the length of threaded rod portion 63. In this manner the radius of swinging movement of the forward end 79 of connecting rod 78 may be made larger or smaller for a purpose to be explained below.

The rear end 81 of connecting rod 78 is pivoted at 82 to an intermediate portion of a lever 83, the lower end of which is fixedly secured on a shaft 84 extending transversely across the apparatus through suitable openings provided in both frame side walls 39, 41?. The opposite end of shaft 84- has fixedly mounted thereon a lever 85 similar to lever 83. The upper ends of both levers 83, 35 are pivotally connected at 86 to the forward ends respectively of a pair of links 37, 88. Each of the inner ends of links 37, 88 is provided with an enlarged inwardly proiecting portion 89 pivotally receiving a pin 9% fixed to and extending outwardly from a member 91.

The members 91 are each provided with a through opening slidably receiving a respective one of a pair of fixed cylindrical bars 92, 93, whereby both members 91 are reciprocally slidable on bars 92, 93 in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the apparatus 31. A rod 94 is provided with opposite ends secured to members 91 and extends between said members f1 transversely of the apparatus 31. Rod 94 is provided with ten openings receiving the rear ends of a series of ten piston rods 95 secured within rod 94 by set screws 96. The forward ends of piston rods 95 are each secured to a plunger or piston 98 (Fig. 6) reciprocally slidable within a respective one of a series of ten cylinders 97 of a metering head indicated generally by the reference numeral as.

The forward ends of cylinders 97 are provided with reduced hollow portions 99 having external threads 1819 and an internal bore 101. A pair of valve housings 162, 111? are mounted in aligned relation on a plate 104 secured to frame 31 by bolts 105. Each of the valve housings 102, 103 has a series of five internally threaded openings 10 1 in the rear face 1115 thereof for threadedly receiving the reduced threaded portions 99 of cylinders 97, five 0f the cylinders 97 being thus connected to valve housing 132 and the remaining five cylinders 7 being connected to the other valve housing 103.

As shown in Fig. l, the adjacent inner ends of valvc housings 102, 103 are joined by abutting projecting bosses 106, 167, respectively. The housings 192, 103 are further provided with horizontally-aligned cylindrical openings 1% extending therethrough and rotatably receiving a valve shaft 109. The latter is provided with a series of ten three-way valve conduits of Tshaped configuration and consisting of a diametrically-extending conduit portion 111 and a radial portion 112 communicating with the center of the diamctrical portion 111. Each of the three-way conduits 110 is in alignment with a respective one of the cylinders 97.

The forward faces 113 of valve housing 102, 103 are provided with a series of ten internally threaded openings 114 in alignment with the threaded opening 104 in the rear face 1%". A series of ten elbow connections 115 are each provided with a reduced externally threaded portion 116 engaged within a respective one of the threaded openings 114. Each elbow 115 is further provided with a tubular outlet portion 117 fitted within an open end of a flexible pipe 118 preferably of plastic or similar material, there being a series of ten flexible pipes 118 connected in this manner.

Mounted on the upper surface 119 of each of the valve housings 102, 103 is a longitudinal enclosure 120, 121, respectively. Each of the enclosures 120, 121 comprises a rear vertical wall 122, a forward wall 123, end walls 123', and a top wall 124, from which extends a vertical tubular fitting 125 internally threaded to engage the externally threaded end 126 of a conduit 127 leading from a supply source of fluid with which the containers are to be filled. The enclosures 120, 121 are thus provided with a longitudinal hollow interior 128 extending substantially throughout the length of the respective valve housings 102, 103 as best seen in Fig. 7.

Each of the valve housings 102, 103 is provided with a series of five openings 129 communicating between the hollow interior 128 of enclosure 120 and 121 and the valve conduit 110 in valve shaft 109. It will thus be seen that when valve shaft 109 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, piston 98 may be moved rearwardly or to the left, as shown in Fig. 6, to draw a predetermined quantity of fluid material from the supply source through conduit 127, openings 129, valve conduit 111, valve conduit 112 and into the interior of the cylinders 97. The quantity of fluid material thus drawn into cylinders 97 may be metered or regulated by the length of the rearward stroke of the pistons 98. The valve shaft 109 may then be rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 whereby the diametrical valve conduit 111 will communicate between cylinder 97 and elbow fitting 115. The pistons 98 may then be moved forwardly (to the right as viewed in Fig. 6) to force the fluid material from the cylinders 97 through the valve conduit 111, pipe fitting 115 and the flexible tubes or pipes 118.

The pistons 98 are caused to reciprocate within the cylinders 97 as a result of rotation of bath plate 49 by drive shaft 44. This rotation of cam plate 49 causes reciprocal movement of connecting rod 51 and hence oscillation of rocker member 55 about the axis of pivot pin 63. Connecting rod 78 is thus actuated to oscillate levers 83 about the axis of shaft 84 and hence links 87, 88 are actuated to reciprocate the entire assembly comprising members 91 and bar 94. Members 91 will slidably reciprocate on the fixed bars 92, 93 and in so doing piston rods 95 will be reciprocated by bar 94 to cause reciprocation of the pistons 98.

The forward ends of the flexible pipes 118 are connected to a filling head indicated generally by the reference numeral 130. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, filling head 130 comprises a horizontal cylinder 131 surrounded by a series of segments 132, 133 held together by screws 135. Cylinder 131 is provided with a series of ten radially extending openings 134 each communicating with a respective one of a series of ten fittings 136. Each of the flexible pipes 118 is connected to a respective one of the fittings 136.

The lower surface of cylinder 131 is provided with a series of ten downwardly projecting nozzles 137 each having a radial opening 139 extending through the wall of cylinder 131. Rotatably mounted within the interior of cylinder 131 is a valve shaft 140 having a series of ten recessed portions 141 each in alignment with a respective one of openings 136. The bottom chordal surface 142 of each recess 141 is at an angle of approximately 45 as shown in Fig. 8 when the valve comprising cylinder 131 and valve shaft 140 is in a closed position. When shaft 140 is rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, the chordal surface 142 will extend in a direction perpendicular to that shown in Fig. 8, thereby providing communication between the respective openings 136 and 139 through the recesses 141 in valve shaft 140.

As best seen in Figs. 3 and 5, a shaft 149 extends transversely and horizontally across the apparatus and is rotatably mounted within bearings 150, 151 secured to the frame side walls 39, 40. A pair of arms 152, 153 are secured at their lower ends on shaft 149 and a similar pair of arms 154, 155 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends to side walls 39, 40 at 148.

Feeding head has at the lower portion thereof a pair of members 156, 156 to which the upper end of arms 152, 153, 154, are pivotally connected by pivot pins as at 152', 153', 154, 155'.

Side members 456, 456' are mounted on members 156, 156 and are also secured to the opposite ends of cylinder 131. A transverse element 457 extends across the apparatus and has its opposite ends secured to members 456, 456 by screws 459 and its intermediate portions secured to segments 133 by screws 458.

It will thus be seen that the feeding head 130 and arms 152 to 155 inclusive comprise a parallelogram structure whereby the arms may oscillate about the axes 148, 149 to reciprocate the feeding head 130 forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the apparatus 131. This enables the feeding head 130 to travel above a row of containers as the latter move along a conveyor belt and to eject fluid into the upper open ends of the containers during this movement, as will be explained in more detail below.

In order to provide this oscillatory movement to the arms 152 to 155, an eccentric arm 157 is secured to shaft 149 at its lower end and is provided at its upper end with a longitudinal slot 158 slidably and rotatably receiving a pivot pin 159 rotatably mounted on the forward end 160 of a connecting rod 161. The rear end of the latter is pivotally connected at 162 to an intermediate portion of a lever 163 which has its upper end pivotally mounted at 164 to a bracket 165 fixedly secured to the side wall 40. The lower end of arm 163 has rotatably mounted thereon a cam follower roller 166 contacting the peripheral surface of a second cam plate 167 fixedly secured on drive shaft 44.

It will thus be seen that as drive shaft 44 rotates cam plate 167, arm 163 will oscillate to actuate connecting rod 161 thereby causing oscillation of eccentric arm 157 to oscillate arms 154, 155, thus causing feeding head 130 to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly. Although the path of movement of feeding head 130 is not exactly linear, for all practical purposes the slight arcuate configuration of this path of movement has such a large radius of curvature as to be almost a straight line.

The opposite projecting ends of valve shaft 140 of feeding head 130 have secured thereto a pair of arms 170, 171 extending radially therefrom. The outermost ends of the arms 170, 171 are provided with rollers 172, 173 engageable within the longitudinal slots 174, 175 of a pair of members 176, 177. The rearward ends of the latter are each fixedly secured to the respective upper ends of a pair of vertical members 178, 179 which are vertically reciprocally slidable within bearing brackets 180, 181 secured to the frame side walls 40 and 39 respectively. The lower ends of members 178, 179 are provided with rearwardly extending portions 182, 183 to which are pivotally secured the upper ends of a pair of links 184, 185.

The lower end of link 184 is pivoted at 186 to the outer end of a crank arm 187 fixedly secured at its other end to a rotatably mounted shaft 188 extending transversely across the apparatus. The opposite end of shaft 188 has secured thereon an intermediate portion of a cell-crank lever 189 comprising an arm 190 pivoted at 191 to the lower ends of link 185. Bell crank lever 189 further comprises a longer arm 192 pivoted at its lower end at 193 to a link 194 having its opposite end pivoted at 195 to the upper end of a crank arm 196. The lower end of the latter is fixedly secured on a shaft 197 which also has secured thereon an eccentric arm 198. The upper end of arm 198 is pivotally connected at 199 to the forward end of a connecting rod 200 having its rearward end pivotally connected at 201 to the outer end of an arm 202. The latter is secured to a projecting outer end of the valve shaft 109 of the metering head 99.

Arm 196 is provided at an intermediate portion thereof with a cam follower roller 203 adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the first cam plate 49. It will thus be seen that as drive shaft 44 rotates cam plate 49 the arm 196 will be oscillated to rotate the bell crank lever 139 thereby causing vertical reciprocation of members 178, 179. This will cause the slotted members 176, 177 to reciprocate in a vertical direction, thereby rotating valve-actuating arms 1'79, 171 to rotate the valve shaft 140 of the filling head 1% through 90. There is thus provided an arrangement for opening and closing the valve means 131, 149 controlling the supply of fluid being ejected from the filling head into the containers b filled thereby. The earn plates 49, 167 have a configuration such that the valve means of the filling head 135) will be opened as the head 130 moves forwardly along with a row of containers and will be closed as the filling head moves rearwardly to pick up the next row of empty containers, as will be explained in more detail below.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 18, a pair of longitudinal members 2L? are secured to frame 32 and extend transversely thereacross in spaced parallel relation to each other. Each of the members 211 comprises a vertical portion 211 integral with an outwardly extending horizontal portion 212 and an inwardly extending portion 213, the portions 212, 213 being located adjacent to but spaced below the upper ends of portions 211. A conveyor indicated generally by the reference numeral 214- is provided to feed empty containers C to the apparatus 31.

As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the conveyor 214 com prises a series of segments 215 having interfitting lugs 216, 217 at the adjacent edges thereof. A pair of conveyor chain links 218, 219 are each provided with an integral horizontal flange portion 220 riveted at 221 to the lower surfaces of the segments 215. it will be seen in Fig. 26 that the chain links 213 are spaced closer together than the adjacent pair of chain links 219 so as to fit therebetwcen. A pivot pin 222 extends through suitable apertures provided in the interfitting portions of chain links 218, 23.9 and a roller 223 to be engaged by a sprocket wheel described below is rotatably mounted on pivot pin 22 2.

Referring again to Fig. 18, it will be seen that the conveyor segments 215 along the upper run of the conveyor rest upon and slide over the upper surfaces of the portions 2E3 of members 210. At the lower or return run of conveyor 2M, the conveyor segments 215 slidably cngage the upper surfaces of the horizontal legs 224 of a pair of spaced angle irons A series of vertical struts 226 are riveted at 227 at their upper ends to the lower portions of members 210, the lower ends of struts 226 being riveted at 223 to the vertical leg portions 229 of angle irons 225. There is thus provided a rigid supporting and guiding structure for the conveyor 214 formed by segments 215.

Referring to Fig. 5, a sprocket wheel 234i is rotatably mounted on a bearing 231 and is provided with teeth 232 forming recesses therebetween for receiving the rollers 223 of conveyor 214. The sprocket Wheel 2330 is at a remote position from the apparatus 31 at a point where the empty containers C are placed on the conveyor 214 in a manner which need not be described for a clear understanding of the present invention. As shown Fig. 5, the left hand end of members 21ft are provided with brackets 233 riveted thereto at 234. The bracket 23$ supports a bearing 235 for rotatably mounting a shaft 236 having secured thereon a sprocket wheel 237. it will thus be seen that the conveyor 214 extends around sprocket wheels 236, 237' in a continuous manner.

Also secured to the shaft 236 is a smaller sprocket Wheel 238 engaging a chain drive 239 which extends around a sprocket wheel 240. As shown in Fig. 3, the

latter is secured to a shaft 241 rotatably mounted within a pair of bearings 242, 243 fixed to a supporting structure 244. One end of shaft 241 is provided with a beveled pinion 24-5 engaging a larger beveled gear 246 secured to drive shaft 4-4. It will thus be seen that the electric motor 46 will drivingly rotate sprocket wheel 237 through bevel gears 245, 246 and chain drive 239, 240, 238 so as to move the conveyor belt 214 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the upper run 214' of conveyor belt 214 moving to the left as viewed in said figure.

R ferring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the reference numeral 256* indicates generally a second conveyor for carrying a row of empty containers in a direction longitudinally of apparatus 31 as the containers are being filled by the filling head 130. Conveyor 250 comprises a pair of sp ed spro ket wheels 251, 252 around which extends a conveyor belt 253 which may be constructed in a manner similar to the conveyor belt 214 described above or may have any suitable conventional construction. The forward sprocket wheel 251 is fixed to a rotatably mounted shaft 254 to which is also secured a smaller sprocket wheel 255 engaging a drive chain 256, the latter extending around a sprocket wheel 257 secured to the output drive shaft 258 of a second electric motor 259. Motor 259 drives the conveyor belt 253 in a continuous counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, the upper run of conveyor belt 253 moving to the left as indicated by the arrow 26%. The lower runs of conveyor belt 253 is supported on guide rollers as at 261.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the frame side walls 39, 40 are provided at the forward portion thereof with upwardly projecting portions 39, 4%, respectively. A pair of horizontal members 5-1! are secured at their forward ends to the portions 35, 40 and have their rearward cnds secured to the upper ends of support elements 251. The lower ends of the latter are riveted as at 252 to the frame side walls 39, A pair of horizontal members 253 are spaced above members 256 respectively to provide therebetwcen a longitudinal trackway 254. The opposite ends of members 253 are secured to bars 256 by spacer blocks 255, 256 which maintain the members 259, 253 in the proper spaced vertical relationship.

The trackway 254 receives the rollers 257, 2:38. Each pair of said rollers 257, 253 is rotatably mounted on a respective one of a pair of trolley members 260. A horizontal plate 261. extends transversely across the apparatus 3i and has its opposite ends secured to both trolley members 26% and spaced therefrom by spacer blocks 262. A series of three longitudinal elements 263 have their rear ends secured to spacer blocks 264 which in turn are secured to intermediate portions of plate 261. The forward ends of elements 263 are secured by rivets 264 to a cage device indicated generally by the reference numeral 265.

Cage device 265 comprises a horizontal top planar wall portion 266 extending transversely across the apparatus 31. As best seen in Fig. 4, the rear edge of top wall portion 256 is formed integral with a downwardly extending rear wall portion 2'37. The forward edge of top wall portion 256 is similarly formed integral with a downwardly extending front wall portion 268. It will be noted that the lower edge 268 of front wall portion 268 is spaced above the lower edge of rear wall portion 267 to enable the containers C to pass under lower edge 268 after they have been piaced by cage device 265 on conveyor belt 253 as the next member 265 is being retracted rearwardly to pick up the next row of containers.

As best seen in Fig. 4, a link 270 is pivoted at one end 271 to each of the trolley members 260. The opposite ends of both links 2'70 are pivoted at 272 to the upper ends of a pair of arms 273 having their lower ends fixedly secured on a shaft 274 rotatably mounted to the frame side walls 39, 40 and extending thereacross. Also fixedly secured to shaft 274 is a rocker arm 275 having on an intermediate portion thereof a cam follower roller 276 adapted to engage the periphery of a third cam plate 277 mounted on drive shaft 44.

A spring 278 is connected at its rearward end to the upper end of the rocker arm 275, the forward end of the spring 278 being connected to a fixed rod 279 extending across and secured to the frame side walls 39, 40. Also secured to rod 279 is a spring 280 having its rearward end connected to an intermediate portion of the arm 273 at 281. The springs 278, 280 are in tension and hence urge the arms 273, 275 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 about the axis of shaft 274 to maintain the cam follower roller 276 on arm 275 in engagement with the peripheral surface of cam plate 49.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the shaft 197, above described, is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in bearings 291, 292 secured to the frame side walls 39, 40. In addition to the arms 196, 198 described above, the shaft 197 also has secured thereon a smaller arm 294 having an upper end connected at 295 to the forward end of a tension spring 296. The rear end of the latter is secured to a transverse rod 297 fixed with respect to the frame 32. It will thus be seen that tension spring 296 urges arms 196, 198, 294 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 about the axis of rotation of shaft 197, thereby maintaining the cam follower roller 203 on one of the arms 196 (Fig. 2) in engagement with the peripheral surface of the first cam plate 49.

It will thus be seen that the cam plate 49' controls the movement of the pistons 98 of metering head 99 and also the opening and closing of the valves of both the metering head 99 and the filling head 130. Cam plate 167 controls the movement of the filling head 130, whereas the plate 277 controls the movement of the pusher cage device 265.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the entrance end 300 of cage 265 is open to permit the conveyor 214 to carry the containers C into the cage 265 in the form of a single row of aligned containers abutting in end to end relation. The open end 300 is flared outwardly at 301 to guide the containers as they enter the cage 265. The opposite end of the latter is provided with an end wall 302 which abuts the leading container in the row and acts as a stop so that only a predetermined number of containers will enter cage 265. In the preferred embodiment of the invention as disclosed, the cage 265 is of a length to receive a row consisting of ten containers, but any number may be employed to coincide with the number of the discharge openings 139 of the filling head 130 so that there will be a container for each of the openings 139.

As shown in Fig. 3, a series of four column elements 305 are secured at their lower ends to the horizontal portions 212 of members 210 and project upwardly therefrom. The upper ends of each pair of column elements 305 have secured thereto a flat planar guide plate 306, there being two plates 306 located on opposite sides of the apparatus as seen clearly in Fig. l. A pair of slides 307 are each provided with a recess slidably receiving the inner lateral edge 306' of a respective one of the guide plates 306. A cross brace 308 extends transversely across the apparatus and has its opposite ends connected to each of the slides 307. The intermediate portions of the brace 308 are secured at 309 to the members 263.

The guide plates 306 thus serve to maintain the cage 265 at the proper height with respect to a flat transfer plate 308 (Fig. 4). The latter extends forwardly from the adjacent portion 212 of member 210 and onto the rear end of the upper horizontal run of conveyor belt 253. It will thus be seen that as cam plate 277 rotates, follower roller 276 will engage the dwell portion of cam plate 277 to permit tension springs 278, 280 to rock arm 273 forwardly about the axis of shaft 274, thereby moving trolleys 260 forwardly within the trackwa'ys 254. This will also result in the forward movement of cage v265 which will then. push the row of containers from the conveyor belt 214 forwardly over transfer plate 308 and onto the rear end of the upper run of conveyor 253. As cam plate 277 continues to rotate it will force the arm 273 rearwardly to move the cage 265 back to the original position over the conveyor belt 214, as shown in Fig. 4,, so as to be in a position to receive the next row of containers conveyed thereto by the conveyor 214.

Means is provided to prevent spilling of fluid material from one of the discharge openings 139 of the filling head 130 without a container therebelow, if, due to some accident, the row of containers conveyed into cage 265 consists of less than ten in number. To this end, there is provided a novel means for preventing opening of the valves in both the filling head 130 and the metering head 99 should there be less than the proper predetermined number of containers fed into said cage 265 and trans ported onto the conveyor 253.

Referring to Fig. 10, the container C there shown is the last container in the row entering the nest 265. A bracket 350 fixed with respect to frame 32 has pivotally mounted thereto at 351 a bell crank lever 352. One arm of the bell crank lever is provided with a beveled nose 353 adapted to engage the last or tenth container C as the row of containers is moved forwardly onto the conveyor 253 by the cage 265. A link 354 is pivoted at one end at 355 to the end of the other arm 356 of bell crank lever 352. The opposite end of the link 354 is pivoted at 357 to a member 358. The latter has a vertical opening receiving a vertical shaft 359 secured thereto by a set screw 360. A tension spring 361 has one end secured to frame side wall 39 and the opposite end secured to member 358 at a point thereof eccentric to the axis of rotation of shaft 359 thereby urging member 358 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10. The shaft 359 is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis in a bearing 361 secured to the frame side wall 39.

As shown in Fig. 12, a stop collar 362 is secured to shaft 359 by set screw 363. Stop collar 362 abuts the upper end surface 364 of bearing 361. A locking detent 365 is also secured to shaft 359 by a set screw 366 and abuts the lower end surface 367 of bearing 361'. It will thus be seen that stop collar 362 and detent 365 prevent vertical sliding movement of shaft 359 within bearing 361'.

As shown in Fig. 2, the locking detent 365 is adapted to abut against the upper surface of the horizontal portion 183 of member 179 thereby locking the latter against upward movement and preventing opening of the valve of filling head 130. When the member 179 is thus locked against upward movement, the bell crank lever 189 is prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 188 and hence the arms 198 are prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 197. This prevents the tension spring shown in Fig. 4 from urging the arms 198, 196 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby the connecting rod 200 is prevented from rotating the arm 202 connected to the valve shaft 109 of the metering head 99.

It will thus be obvious that when locking detent 365 is in locking engagement with the horizontal portion 183 of member 179, the valves of both the filling head 130 and the metering head 102 are maintained closed irrespective of the positions of cam plate 49. This will prevent the fluid filling material from being discharged through the discharge openings 139 of the filling head 130. Instead, when the pistons 98 are moved forwardly within the cylinders 97, the fluid material will merely be bypassed upwardly through the valve conduit 110 and back through the supply conduit 127 connected to the source of fluid supply.

However, when the proper predetermined number of containers enter the cage 265, the last container C will engage the nose 353 of hell crank lever 352 as the row of containers is moved forwardly by the cage 265. This engagement causes the bell crank lever 352 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. thereby causing the member 358 and the shaft 359 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the axis of the latter. The locking detent 365 is thus swung outwardly out of engagement with the horizontal portion 133 of the member 179 thereby permitting the arms 1%, 1% to follow the dwell on the peripheral surface of cam plate 49 which results in rotating the valve arms 17 292. through an angle of 90 to open the valves in the filling head 13% and the metering head 99.

After the last container C has moved forwardly a sufficient extent to be disengaged from the nose 353 of bell crank lever 352, the spring 361 will tend to rotate the shaft 359 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10. This would prevent the horizontal portion 183 of the member 179 from moving past the locking detent 365 when the member 17? is returning downwardly toward its lowermost position shown in Pig. 2. Therefore, the locking detent 365 must be prevented from swinging back into the engaging position until the horizontal portion 183 has passed below the locking detent 365.

For this purpose the shaft 359 has secured thereto the enlarged hub 370 of a radially extending element 371, as shown in Figs. 2, l3 and 21. A bell crank lever indicated generally at 372 comprises a horizontal member 373 secured by rivets 374 to a vertical member 375. The latter is provided with a rounded cam surface 376 at its lower end, and its upper end is integrally formed with a horizontal flange 3'77 extending over the top edge 3'78 of the frame side wall 39. A vertical set screw 330 extends through flange 377 and has a lower end adapted to abut the top edge 378 of frame side wall 39. The bell crank lever 3'72 is pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis by a pivot pin 381 mounted to side Wall 3%. The set screw 3%- is vertically adjustable to limit the rotation in a counterclockwise direction of hell crank lever 372 about the axis of pivot pin 381, the lower end of said screw 3S4) striking the side wall upper edge 378 for this purpose.

The forward end of arm 373 is provided with an outwardly extending integral flange 382 having a vertical latch 384 pivotally mounted thereon about the horizontal axis of pivot pin 383.

The upper end of latch 384 is bevelled in an inward upward direction as at 385. A tension spring 386 connected at one end to a lower portion of latch 334 at 387 is secured at its opposite end to arm 3'73 and serves to bias latch 38 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 21. A stop member 333 is secured on flange 382 and is adapted to engage the inner edge 389 of latch 384 to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the latter induced by the tension spring 336. A roller 3% is pivotally mounted on cam plate 49 and is adapted to engage the cam surface 376 on the arm 375 so as to rotate the entire bell crank lever 372 in a clockwise direction about the axis of pivot pin 381.

It will thus be seen that when the tenth container C in the row engages the nose 353 of hell crank lever 352, the shaft will be rotated so as to swing the locking detent 365 out of engagement with the horizontal portion 183 of member 179, thereby permitting the valves of the filling head 130 and the metering head 99 to be opened. The rear end of element 3'71 will thus be moved into engagement with the bevelled cam surface 385 of latch 384 and will ratchet past the upper end of latch 384 until it engages the edge 389 thereof. The rear end of element 371 is thus maintained locked in position and the shaft 359 is maintained at an angular position whereby locking detent 365 remains in the outward position so that after the filling operation the horizontal portion 183 of member 179 may then move downwardly below the level of locking detent 365.

After this occurs, the roller 3% on cam plate 49 will engage the cam surface 376 to rotate bell crank lever 37?. in a clockwise direction, thereby enabling the rear end of element 371 to move over the upper portion of latch 384-. This permits the tension spring 361 shown in it) to rotate the shaft in a direction to move the locking etent 365 back to a position in vertical alignment with the horizontal portion 1535 thereby again locking member 17? against upward movement and preventing rotat oi of bell crank lever 189 and also the arms 312 5 c ected thereto. After the roller 390 has passed the cam edge 376, the weight of bell crank lever will cause it to rotate back to its initial position shown in Fig. 2 until the lower end of set screw 3S0 abuts against the upper edge J78 of frame side wall 39.

l t should now be obvious that if the conveyor 314 transports less than ten containers into cage 265, there will be no tenth container at the end of the row to engage the nose 353 of bell crank lever 352. Therefore the shaft 359 will not be rotated and the locking detent 365 will remain in engagement with the top surface of horizontal portion 183 of member 179. This maintains the valves of filling head 13% and metering head 99 closed when there are an insumcient number of containers to provide a container beneath each of the discharge openings 139 in the filling head. This avoids the possibility of spilling the fluid filling material which would contaminate and clog the various moving parts of the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described is merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope thereof. Hence this disclosure is merely illustrative and it is not intended that it should limit the scope of the invention as delineated in the appended claims, the latter to be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention in some detail, what is claimed is:

1. In combination, means to feed a row of containers in a direction longitudinally of the row to a predetermined position, a conveyor, means to move said row of containers as a row from said position in a direction perpendicular to said row and onto said conveyor, means to move the conveyor in said perpendicular direction to move said row of containers in said direction perpendicular to the row, and means to simultaneously feed materials into all of said containers as they are moved by said conveyor through a predetermined distance.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said feed means comprises a filling member having a row of discharge openings each adapted to be positioned above a respective one of said containers in vertical alignment therewith, means mounting said filling member for reciprocal movement in a direction perpendicular to said row of openings and in the same direction of movement of said conveyor and in a direction opposite thereto, means for moving said filling member from an initial position at the same velocity as said conveyor in said same direction for said predetermined distance to fill the row of containers with said materials, and means for moving said filling member in said opposite direction after said row of containers have been filled, whereby successive rows of containers may be filled with materials in the manner recited with respect to said first-recited row of containers.

3. In a combination as recited in claim 2, drive means, and means connected to said drive means for automatically actuating said filling member moving means when said row of containers on the conveyor reaches a position directly below said initial position of the filling member.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said filling member mounting means comprises link means 13 pivotally connected to the filling member for mounting the latter for oscillatory movement, said actuating means comprising rotatable cam means drivingly connected to said drive means, and means responsive to rotation of said cam means and connected to said link means for imparting oscillatory movement to said filling member.

5. In combination, means for feeding a row of containers in a direction longitudinally of the row to a predetermined position, a conveyor, means for moving the conveyor in a direction perpendicular to said row, means for moving said row of containers, as a row, in said perpendicular direction onto said conveyor so as to align the row of containers on the conveyor transversely of the direction of conveyor movement, filling means having a row of discharge openings each adapted to be positioned above a respective one of said containers in vertical alignment therewith, means mounting the filling means for movement above the conveyor in said direction of movement thereof, means for moving said filling means at approximately the same velocity as the conveyor to maintain the discharge openings in said vertical alignment with the containers as the latter move on said conveyor, means for supplying fluid material to said filling means to be discharged simultaneously through said openings into said containers as the latter move on said conveyor, and valve means controlling said discharge of fluid material and for stopping said discharge when the containers have been filled with a predetermined quantity thereof.

6. In the combination recited in claim 5, spill-prevention means, including a member engageable with one of said containers, and responsive to the number of containers in said row and controlling said valve means for preventing discharge of fluid material from said filling means when said row contains less than a predetermined number of containers.

7. In the combination recited in claim 6, said valve means comprising a valve controlling the discharge of said fluid material through said openings and means actuable to open said valve, said spill-prevention means comprising an element positioned to contact an end container of said row only when the latter contains said predetermined number of containers, locking means normally preventing actuation of the valve-opening means, and means responsive to contact of said element with said end container to release said locking means to permit actuation of the valve-opening means.

8. In the combination recited in claim 5, drive means, and actuating means connected to said drive means for automatically actuating said container moving means, said means moving the filling means and also said valve means in predetermined timed relation.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft, said actuating means comprising cams secured to said shaft, and cam follower means engaging said cams and operatively connected to said container moving means, said means moving the filling means and also said valve means.

10. The combination recited in claim wherein said fluid material supplying means comprises first conduit means adapted to be connected to a supply source of fluid material, a second valve means connected to said conduit means, and second conduit means leading from said second valve means to said filling means, and means for opening said second valve means to connect said first and second conduit means when said filling means is over said row of containers.

11. In the combination as recited in claim 10, means, including a member engageable with one of said containers, for preventing said opening of the second valve means when said row consists of less than a predetermined number of containers.

12. In the combination recited in claim 10, cylinder means connected to said second valve means, piston means reciprocally slidable within said cylinder means,

14 said second valve means comprising three-way valves movable to alternative positions to connect said cylinder means to either said first or second conduit means, means for actuating said pistons when said row of containers are located beneath said filling means to be filled thereby, and valve-actuating means for moving said threeway valves to the position connecting said cylinder means to said second conduit means when said row of containers are so located.

13. In the combination recited in claim 12, locking means normally preventing operation of said valve-actuating means and thereby maintaining said three-way valves in the position connecting said cylinder means to said first conduit means, and means responsive to the number of containers in said row for releasing said locking means when said row includes a predetermined number of containers.

14. In combination, means to move an open top container from one position in one direction, a filling head over the container, means to reciprocate the head to move with the container in said direction away from said one position to a second position and then back to said one position as the container continues to move in said one direction beyond said second position, a valve on said head adapted to permit material from said head to pass into said container when said valve is opened and means to open the valve while the head and container move in said first direction, and means controlled by the direction of movement of the head to automatically close the valve while the head moves back from the second position toward said one position.

15. In the combination recited in claim 14, a fixed metering head, a flexible conduit connecting said metering head with the filling head, means to cause a predetermined amount of material to pass from the metering head to the filling head while the filling head is moving from said first position to said second position, and means to feed said material to said metering head.

16. In combination, means for moving a plurality of open top containers from a first position in one direction, a filling head over the container and having a plurality of discharge openings, means for reciprocating the filling head to move the latter with the containers in said one direction away from said first position to a second position and then back in the opposite direction to said first position as the containers continue to move in said one direction beyond said second position, valve means on said filling head for permitting material from said head to be discharged through said openings into said containers when said valve means is opened, means for opening the valve means while the head and containers move in said first direction, and means for closing the valve means while the filling head moves back from said second position toward the first position in said opposite direction.

17. In the combination recited in claim l6, means, including a member engageable with one of said containers, for maintaining said valve means closed when said first-recited means moves less than a predetermined number of containers in said one direction away from said first position.

18. In the combination recited in claim 16, a fixed metering head, a plurality of flexible conduits connecting said metering head with the filling head, each of said conduits being in communication with a respective one of said filling head discharge openings when said valve means is open, a second valve means associated with the metering head for permitting a predetermined amount of material to pass from the metering head through said flexible conduits to the filling head while the filling head is moving from said first position to said second position, and means for feeding a predetermined amount of material to said metering head.

19. In the combination recited in claim 18, means for maintaining the first and second valve means closed when the first-recited means moves less than a predetermined number of containers rfom said first position in said one direction.

20. In combination, a conveyor, means for moving the conveyor in an approximately horizontal direction, means for placing a plurality of empty containers on said conveyor transversely thereof, so as to be moved therewith in parallel paths, filling means having a plurality of discharge openings each positioned above a respective one of said containers in vertical alignment therewith, means mounting the filling means for movement above the conveyor in said direction, means for moving said filling means at approximately the same velocity as the conveyor to maintain said discharge openings in said ver- 16 tical alignment with the containers as the latter move on said conveyor, and means for supplying material to said filling means to be discharged through said openings into said containers as the latter move on said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,573 Ecklund Oct. 30, 1934 ,992,464 Blackman Feb. 26, 1935 2,040,436 Howard May 12, 1936 2,663,478 Jahn et a1. Dec. 22, 1953 

